Fuel-feeding apparatus for locomotives



Feb. 13, 1934. H. YoERG FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES Filed April 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l om Q H. YOERG FUEL FEEDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES Feb 33, 11934.

Filed April 27, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet VSE/EEE fm1/@afar HENRY Vo/@G i2 l l @dem Arroz/#EK Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUEL-FEEDING APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTIVES 11 Claims.

lo. ashes, which often must be removed from the usual ash-pan of the locomotive while traveling from one station to another. When a locomotive arrives at a terminal or round house the ashes are usually removed and often discharged i5 into a pit, to be later removed. When a locomotive is hauling a heavy load for a great distance, it often becomes necessary, as above stated, to remove some of the ashes from the locomotive ashpan while the train is in motion, and this is 2o. usually done by dumping the ash-pan on to the road bed while the train is moving. This dumping is objectionable as it makes the road bed, usually provided with suitable ballast such as crushed rock or gravel to keep down the growth of weeds, .unsightly When the ashes are thus dumped on the road bed, they are usually removed therefrom by a section crew thus adding to the cost of maintenance.

When pulverized fuel is used in lieu of ordi- A3o nary lump coal, the ash problem is substantially eliminated because when the fuel is delivered into the re box of the locomotive in a nely ground or pulverized state, it is substantially all consumed, and any residue tending to remain in the fire box will be discharged therefrom through the stack of the locomotive by the exhaust thereof. In the apparatus herein disclosed, the pulverized fuel is delivered into the fire box mixed with steam or vapor, and heated air, resulting in the production of a highly combustible fuel mixture which may be readily and economically consumed, producing an intense heat and increasing the efficiency of the locomotive with a marked saving in fuel and labor. I prefer to pulverize the fuel as it is used and thereby avoid the danger of explosion whichmay occur when a supply of pulverized fuel is carried in the tender. y

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel feeding apparatus for locomotives, comprising a chamber into which the pulverized fuel is delivered from a suitable crusher, said chamber having a pipe connecting it with the fire box and provided Vwith means for creating a suction therein, whereby the pulverized. fuel is (Cl. 11o- 104) drawn from said chamber and delivered into the locomotive fire box.

A further object is to provide a fuel feeding apparatus comprising a pulverizer having an expansion chamber connected with the discharge thereof adapted to receive the pulverized fuel, and a plurality of air-jacketed conduits leading from said chamber to the fire box or furnace of the locomotive, each provided with a discharge nozzle, and said nozzles having steam pipes connected therewith adapted to project jets of steam therethrough to cause pulverized fuel in the expansion chamber to be drawn through said conduits for delivery into the fire box, by the injector action of said jets, and said expansion chamber causing the fuel to be uniformly distributed among said conduits.

The primary object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an improved fuel feeding apparatus of the class described comprising few moving parts; which is simple and inexpensive in construction; provides eicient combustion; and whereby the usual locomotive ash-pan may be dispensed with.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes maybe made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 showing the rear portion of a locomotive and the forward portion of a tender, and the arrangement of the novel fuel feeding apparatus thereon;

Figure 2 is a detail plan View of matter shown in Figure l, showing a means for operating the feed screw which delivers the coal from the tender to the pulverizer.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the connection between the pulverizer and the fuel receiving chamber; and,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2, showing the feed pipes connecting the fuel chamber with the fire box of the locomotive, and also showing the hot air circulating passages encircling the feed pipes, which supply hot air to heat the fuel before it is projected into the fire box.

In the selected embodiment o-f the invention here shown, there is illustrated, for purposes of disclosure, the rear portion of a locomotive comprising the usual fire box or combustion chamber 2, having a bottom 3, and provided at its rear with a Water wall 4. The usual water circulating tubes 5 are shown extending across the fire box 2. A tender 6, shown in part at the left hand side of Figure 1, is connected to the locomotive by a suitable coupling 7.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision of means for pulverizing the coal before it is delivered to the fire box 2. A suitable crusher or pulverizer 3 is suitably mounted upon the rear portion of the locomotive, and has an opening 9 into which the unpulverized coal is delivered from the tender 6 by a suitable feed screw or auger 11, mounted in a tubular casing 12 having its discharge end positioned within the opening 9 of the pulverizer. The opposite end of the casing 12 is connected with a casing 13 by a suitable universal joint 14, as shown. A conveyer 15 is shown mounted in the bottom of the hopper 16 of the tender and has one end of its shaft 17 connected by a universal joint 18 to the shaft 19 of the feed screw 11. The rear end cf the shaft 17 is shown connected to a drive shaft 22 by such means as a suitable chain-and-sprocket drive 23. The drive shaft 22 is connected by a universal joint 24 to a telescopic shaft 25 having a universal joint 26 connecting it with a short shaft 27, as

t shown in Figure 2. The shaft 27 has a gear 28 meshing with a pinion 29, here shown secured to the pulverizer shaft 31, so that when the pulverizer is operated, the shaft 27 will be rotated to drive the shafts 25 and 22, and therefore the conveyer screw 15 located in the bottom of the hopper 16 of the tender.

In the drawings, I have shown the pulverizer shaft 31 driven by means of a suitable steam turbine 32, having a pipe 33 whereby it may be connected to the steam supply of the locomotive boil- :Isc

er. This steam turbine may be of ordinary construction and is suitably located upon the locomotive. It may be connected directly with the pulverizer shaft 31, as shown, or it may be connected therewith by means of a suitable transmission, not shown.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided for receiving the pulverized fuel from the crusher or pulverizer, before it is delivered to the combustion chamber or nre box of the locomotive. Such means is best shown in Figure 3 and comprises a box 34, the walls of which dei-lne a chamber 35 having a trunk 36 connecting it with the discharge of the pulverizer, so that when the latter is operating, the pulverizer fuel will'be delivered into the chamber 35 by means of the trunk 36. v Means are provided for conveying the pulverized fuel from the chamber 35 to the combustion chamber of the locomotive and, in Figure 4, two pipes 37 are shown connected with the opposite ends of the chamber 35 and lead upwardly therefrom and have their upper ends projecting through suitable openings 38 provided in the water wall 4 of the locomotive, as shown in Figure 1. The discharge ends of the pipes 37 form nozzles 39 from which the pulverized fuel is projected into the combustion chamber, as will subsequently be described.

Steam pipes 41 are connected with the nozzles 39 of the pipes 37, and each is adapted to project a jet of steam (preferably superheated) through its respective nozzle 39 to thereby form injectors adapted tc draw the pulverized fuel from the chamber 35 and project it into the combustion chamber 2. The steam pipes 41 are connected with the steam supply of the boiler and are provided with suitable control valves for regulating the iiow of steam therethrough. These valves are of ordinary construction, and are therefore not shown in the drawings.

Another feature of the invention resides in the means provided for supplying heated air to the combustion chamber simultaneously as the pulverized fuel is projected thereinto. Such means is shown in Figures l and 4, and consists of an air circulation passage 43 around each feed pipe 37. The upper ends of the air passages 43 cornmunicate with the combustion chamber as best shown in Figure 1. The lower ends of the annular chambers 43 communicate with suitable air circulating passages 44, preferably arranged directly beneath the floor of the re box, so that air passing through the air passages 44 for delivery into the combustion chamber 2, may be heated by contacting with the heated bottom wall 3 of the combustion chamber.

The air passages 44 are provided at their forward ends with suitable dampers 30 adapted to be opened to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, so that when the locomotive is in motion, air may ow through the passages 44 and be heated by contact with the floor of the fire box and enter the upright passages 43, surrounding the feed pipes 37, from whence it will be projected into the re box simultaneously with the supply of pulverized fuel and steam. This heated air will raise the temperature of the fuel and render it more combustible before delivery to the fire box. By thus simultaneously projecting the heated pulverized fuel, steam, and hot air, into the re box, the fuel particles will become thoroughly mixed with the steam and air, resulting in the production of a highly combustible fuel mixture which will be readily consumed. Any residue which may tend to form will be discharged to the atmosphere from the usual stack of the locomotive.

Partitions 40 provide the lower walls of the passages 44, and also the upper walls of similar passages 5G which communicate with the passages 44 at their forward ends adjacent to the dampers 30. Should the suction created in the passages 43 by the inrushing steam and fuel projected from the nozzles 39, not be sufcient to pull enough air into the passages 44 and up through the passages 43, when the dampers 30 are open, then suitable means may be provided for forcibly circulating the air through the passages 43 as, for example, blowers 45, which may be connected with the rear ends of the lower horizontal passages 50. These blowers may be directly driven from the pulverizer shaft 31, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When such blowers are used, the dampers 30 will be closed as shown in full lines in Figure 1, whereby the air will be circulated through the passages 50, 44 and 43, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

By the employment of this novel fuel crusher and fuel feeding apparatus in connection with a railway locomotive, the cost of operation and maintenance is lowered, and also the locomotive will operate with greater efficiency. It is also to be noted, as hereinbefore stated, that when the fuel is delivered to the combustion chamber in a heated pulverized state, and an ample supply of Bil heated air and steam 1s intermixed therewith as it is projected into the fire box, the operation of the locomotive will be far more eflicient than when burning ordinary lump coal, or pulverized fuel that is not preheated or exposed to a steam jet, because of the thorough and complete combustion of the fuel. The apparatus is also very simple and inexpensive in construction, and comprises few moving parts. Also, by its employment, the objectionable ash problem is eliminated and the task of supplying fuel to the boiler is greatly facilitated.

The chamber 35, defined by the walls of the box 34, acts as an expansion chamber and assures equal distribution of the pulverized fuel to the feed pipes 37, which also results in improved combustion in the fire box, because of the fuel being uniformly delivered thereto at each side thereof as will be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 4. By using the fuel feeding apparatus herein disclosed, the usual labor of manually stoking the re box is dispensed with, as the delivery of fuel to the fire box is controlled by the simple regulation of the steam delivered to the nozzles 39 from the pipes 41. Thus, it will be seen the operation of firing the boiler is greatly simplified with a corresponding decrease in the cost of maintenance, both in the direct flring of the locomotive and also, in the maintenance of the road bed and care of the locomotive when stationed at a terminal or round house.

I claim:

1. In combination with a locomotive and its fire box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing connectedy with said pulverizing means and constituting a chamber, pipes leading from the ends of said chamber and provided at their upper ends with nozzles communicating With the fire box of the locomotive, means for delivering steam to said nozzles to provide injectors adapted to project the pulverized fuel into the fire box mixed with steam, a coaxial air circulating passage around each nozzle, air heating means in communication with 'said passages, and means for projecting heated air from said coaxial air passages into the fire box to mix with the steam and pulverized fuel delivered thereto from the nozzles, whereby a highly combustible fuel mixture is provided.

2. In combination with a `locomotive and its re box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing connected with said pulverizing means and constituting a chamber, pipes leading from the ends of said chamber and provided at their upper ends with nozzles communicating with the re box of the locomotive,'means for delivering steam to said nozzles to provide injectors' adapted to project the pulverized fuel into the re box mixed with steam, an annular air circulating passage around each pipe communicating With the fire box adjacent to said nozzles, air heating means in communication with said air circulating passages, and means for circulating heated air through said air passages whereby the walls of said pipes will be heated and thereby preheat the pulverized fuel passing therethrough before it is delivered into the flre box, whereby a highly combustible fuel mixture is provided.

3. In combination with a locomotive and its fire box, fuel pulverizing means, means for conveying pulverized fuel from said pulverizing means to the locomotive fire box, said conveying means including a nozzle positioned to project the fuel into the locomotive re box, a steam pipe connected with said nozzle and adapted to project steam therethrough, whereby pulverized fuel is drawn through said conveying means and projected into the fire box, an air jacket surround-- fire box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing vvhosev Walls dene an expansion chamber, a trunk connecting the discharge of the pulverizing means with said expansion chamber, a plurality of fuel feed pipes connected with said expansion chamber and each having a nozzle communicating with the locomotive fire box, a steam pipe connected with each nozzle and adapted to project steam therethrough whereby pulverized fuel in the expansion chamber may be drawn through said feed pipes and projected intol the locomotive re box, mixed with steam, air jackets surrounding said fuel feed pipes and said nozzles and communicating with the re box, air heating means, and means for circulating heated air through said air jackets and delivering it into said re box.

5. In combination With a locomotive and its fire box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing Whose walls dene an expansion chamber, a trunk connecting the discharge of the pulverizing means,

with said expansion chamber, a plurality of fuel feed pipes connected with said expansion chamber and having nozzles communicating with the locomotive fire box, steam pipes connected with said nozzles and adapted to project steam therethrough whereby pulverized fuel in the expansion chamber may be drawn through said feed pipes and projected into the locomotive fire box, mixed with steam, an air jacket surrounding each fuel feed pipe, means for preheating the air circulating through said air jackets, and means by which the heated air in said jackets is delivered intothe locomotive re box adjacent to said nozzles, whereby said heated air will interinix with the fuel and steam discharging from said nozzles, to thereby provide a highly combustible fuel mixture.

6. In combination with a locomotive and its fire box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing whose walls define an expansion chlarnber, a trunk connecting the discharge of the pulverizing means with said expansion chamber, a plurality of fuel feed pipes connected with said expansion chamber and having nozzles communicating with thek locomotive re box, steam pipes connected with said nozzles and adapted to project steam therethrough whereby pulverized fuel in the expansion chamber may be drawn through said feed pipes and projected into the locomotive re box, mixed with steam, an air jacket surrounding each fuel feed pipe, means for preheating the air circulating through said air jackets, and an annular passage surrounding each nozzle and connected with said air jackets whereby the heated air in said jackets may be discharged into the fire box simultaneously with the fuel and steam delivered thereto from the nozzles, whereby it will intermix therewith and provide a highly combustible fuel mixture.

7. The combination with a locomotive, comprising a re box and means for supporting a supply of unpulverized fuel, of a pulverizing means soi fil

mounted upon the locomotive, means for feeding the unpulverized fuel to said pulverizing means, a casing constituting a chamber, means for conveying the pulverized fuel from said pulverizing means into said chamber, fuel feed pipes connecting said chamber with the fire box and each provided with a discharge nozzle, casings surrounding said fuel feed pipes and having their walls spaced the efrom to provide air circulating passages substantially surrounding said feed pipes, said air circulating passages communicating with the fire box adjacent to said nozzles, a horizontally disposed air-heating passage beneath and adjacent to the lower heated wall of the fire box whereby the air circulated therethrough Will be heated, said horizontal air passage being connected with the passages surrounding said fuel feed pipes, and means at the forward end of said horizontal air passage for controlling air circulation therethrough, the air circulated through said horizontal passage being heated by contacting with the heated bottom wall of the fire box, whereby the fuel passing through said fuel feed pipes will be preheated before it is discharged into the re box from said nozzles.

8. The combination with a locomotive, comprising a fire box and means for supporting a supply of unpulverized fuel, of a pulverizing means mounted upon the locomotive, means for feeding the unpulverized fuel to said pulverizing means, a casing constituting an expansion chambei', means for conveying the pulverized fuel from said pulverizing means into said expansion chamber, fuel feed pipes connecting said expanl sion chamber with the fire box and each provided with a discharge nozzle, casings surrounding said fuel feed pipes and having their walls spaced therefrom to provide air circulating passages substantially surrounding said feed pipes, said air circulating passages communicating with the re box adjacent to said nozzles, a horizontally disposed air-heating passage beneath the fire box connected with the passages surrounding said feed pipes, means at the forward end of said '1 horizontal air passage for controlling air circulation therethrough, a second air circulating passage connected at its forward end with said rst mentioned horizontal passage, and a blower connected with said second air passage for circulating air through said passages whereby the air is heated before it is delivered into the air passages surrounding said feed pipes so as to preheat the pulverized fuel passing therethrough, said heated air subsequently being discharged into the fire box simultaneously with the supply of fuel thereto.

9. In combination with a locomotive and its nre box, means for supporting a supply of pulvcrized fuel, means for conveying the pulverized fuel from said fuel supporting means to the locomotive nre box, said conveying means including a lnozzle communicating with the re box, a steam pipe connected with said nozzle and adapted to project steam therethrough, whereby the pulverized fuel is drawn through said conveying means and projected into the fire box, an air jacket surrounding portions of the walls of the conveying means, means for preheating the air circulated through said air jacket to thereby preheat the fuel passing through said conveying means, and said nozzle being surrounded by a co-axial air passage connecting with said air jacket and from which heated air is discharged into the re box to inter-mix with the fuel and steam discharging from the nozzle.

10. In combination with a locomotive and its fire box, means for supporting a supply of pulverized fuel, including a chamber, a fuel feed pipe connected with said chamber and having a nozzle communicating with the locomotive fire box, a steam pipe connected with said nozzle and adapted to project steam therethrough, whereby pulverized fuel in said chamber is drawn through said feed pipe and projected into the nre box, mixed with steam, an air jacket surrounding the fuel feed pipe, means for preheating the air circulated through said air jacket to thereby preheat the fuel passing through the fuel feed pipe, and means by which the heated air in said jacket is delivered into the fire box adjacent to said nozzle, whereby said heated air will intermix with the fuel and steam discharging from the nozzle to thereby provide a highly combustible fuel mixture.

11. In combination with a locomotive'and its fire box, fuel pulverizing means, a casing connected to said pulverizing means and constituting a chamber, pipes leading from the ends of said chamber and provided at their upper ends with nozzles extending through openings in the rea-r wall of the locomotive re box, means for delivering steam under pressure to said nozzles to form injectors for projecting the pulverized fuel into the fire box, air jackets surrounding said fuel pipes and communicating with the fire box around said nozzles, air heating means, and means for delivering heated air to said jackets to preheat the pulverized fuel before it is delivered into the nre box, said heated air discharging into the re box together with said steam and pulverized fuel, whereby a highly combustible fuel mixture is provided.

HENRY YOERG. 

